THE Executive Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Ibuchukwu Ezike, said the situation is an “embarrassing development, shocking, a shameful monumental dent on this “religious and sacred” government.

He stated: “The shock many Nigerians received on learning about this tragedy is not that such scandalous development has happened, but who did it?

“It is not news that a man or woman is caught in the act of adultery, but it is when it involves a man or woman in the temple of God, an ordained man/woman of God, because of his or her status in the arena of sacredness, purity and sanctity.

“You will realise that when the All Progressives Congress (APC) was in opposition, they pretended to be the clean and sanctimonious party, with infallibles as its members and leaders.”

He continued: “They told us their predecessor was dirty, messy, stinking, corrupt, and absolutely incorrigible and un-amenable and that when given the opportunity to lead our country, they would turn Nigeria from her beggarly and rotten status to a status characterised by openness, integrity, credibility and abundance for the betterment of our people.

They promised that they were bringing change to the table- change to make Nigeria more transparent, accountable, credible, wealthy, honourable and a respecter of the rule of law, due process and human rights.

Unfortunately, since May 29, last year, Nigeria has not been the same again. There is hunger everywhere, our laws and court orders have been flagrantly disobeyed, due process has been violated and human rights of the citizens brazenly abused.”

To him, from the current allegation, which is a novel and scientific approach to corruption, is clear that the budget is a “package of mischievous, deceptive and dubious figures.”

Ezike added: “CLO does not only condemn this reprehensible act, but also demands that appropriate constitutional provisions against such gigantic fraud be invoked without delay, so that people should caution themselves and rest the rules.

“We make bold to say that where this is not done and in good time, then, we will be prepared to face the worst suffocating hardship in the history of this country, except the National Assembly (NASS) does extra job to re-write the gross wrongs. This system of stealing is too scientific and I praise the intelligence and wisdom of NASS in taking the pains to discover the frauds.

“The President must claim responsibility for this fraud again, and not shift it to anybody else. We are not surprised at what happened, because aside the issues raised above, which suggest that the government has no intolerance for corruption, where would the President, who has become the Minister of Foreign Affairs settle down to clinically study the budget or even cross check with the ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of agencies and commissions to check and correct any mistakes that could be discovered there in.

“Although some associates of the Presidency and APC members have been trying to redeem their government and party from the corruption, describing it as a proposal that the NASS has right to adopt or reject.”

He maintained that copying the old system by this regime meant that there was no change, as being claimed by the party, especially when nothing is done differently from the old order.

“Suppose the NASS didn’t discover these frauds, wouldn’t the huge sums secretly run into private pockets?
“The amount of money allegedly proposed for certain projects have been objectively queried by the NASS. “The grand total of the budget is another big issue. NASS accuses the Presidency of given N 6.1 trillion as the grand totals, while the actual or correct figure is put at N6.3 trillion.

“Lastly, we are waiting for the ardent supporters of this government, who are in the habit of going to the press to ask the alleged perpetrators of such crimes who are in position of authority to resign, to advise Buhari to resign now.
“I do not think anybody has committed this kind of fraud since the creation of this country.“The budget fraud is a monumental disgrace and damaging scandal. It has vindicated Nigerians, who the President described as criminals overseas, as saints. The World now knows who the criminals are.”